Another year gone, another one begins - WOW!
This may have been the quickest year of my life.
What a great one it's been, though.

I started this little space as a 'travel/studyabroad/callitwhatyouwant' type of blog. I wrote about my adventures through Europe, favorite locations, bucket lists, etc.

I wrote about the things that pertained to my life at the time - looking for jobs, finding a flat, getting a visa, moving to London, etc.

And now I'm IN London - I'm traveling less, settling more, but still writing about what is going on in my life.
It's different.

So how do I manage to make that transition from writing about travel to writing more about life, and having people want to still read?

I mean, you can't write about your past forever.

Why would I want to?

I love my life right now, and that's what I want to share.
I'm finding out who I am, what I want,
what opportunities are out there, and working towards that things that I want.
Whether that includes a trip to another country, a night out in the city, what I'm doing towards my degree, or even a visit to the theatre
it's my life in London, and that's what I started writing here for.

Plain and simple, this blog began to document my life, and that's exactly what I'm doing.

I'm an expat - I'm making a life for myself on the other side of the word.

I found something (erm, somewhere?) that took hold of my heart, and couldn't shake it until I found my way back. And what do you do in those cases? Duh, you find your way back.

It's called chasing your dreams.

And I guess that's what this blog really comes down to in the end.
It's about being passionate about your life - finding what you truly want, and going for it.

The fact that people want to read about it, in my case though, is something I wasn't completely expecting, but turned out to be more rewarding than I could have ever imagined.

"Thank you for documenting everything you've gone through"

It's receiving things like this
that make me so happy I decided to start this blog. I remember before I
traveled abroad for the first time, I went crazy on blog-searches for
any type of real experience, not some Lonely Planet review or
London travel guide. While they are great resources, I wanted to read
about a someone's personal journey - someone like me.

And to be able to get messages like this - that I'm helping someone with their
decisions on studying abroad, moving abroad, whatever it may be - is
absolutely priceless.
Thank god for Heather, who was always there to
bring me down from craziness and overwhelming thoughts about the
future and what we were doing. I'm all for independence, but having someone to give the reassurance that I was taking the right path is something that I
needed. And to be able to be that person for other people is an amazing feeling.

Talk about paying it forward, eh?

Look, I have no idea what the next year is going to bring for me.

I could find a job in London, I could not.

I could preparing to fly back to America this time next year - I could be jumping ship to some other random place. Who knows really.

2014 has been a year of doing everything I'd been dreaming of.

And now that, after three years of work, that's out of the way,

I'm pretty excited to see where 2015 is going to take me.

Thank you for reading this little space and for taking this adventure with me.

It's actually even better than just free stuff - it's CATH KIDSTON.
Social moguls such as baby Prince George have been recently photographed wearing this,
so you're only one of the cool kids if you're wearing it too.

That's right - another giveaway!
I told you this was the greatest post ever...

All your Christmas/Hanukkah shopping is done and you're ready to relax for the rest of the holidays. But how would you like to win one more present for yourself?

I've teamed up with some fabulous bloggers to give away a fabulous Cath Kidston tote. You can choose either one, or any item on the Cath Kidston website of equal or lesser value (or any combination of items totally to £45).

Luckily I was able to snag one, and I made my way down to the Donmar Warehouse this past Saturday.

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Set in 1940s Hollywood, the story intertwines two plots within one story.
We see the struggling writer, Stine, working on perfecting his latest screenplay against the wishes of self-absorbed producer Buddy Fidler to 'fluff' up the script.
Mirroring this is Stine's screenplay coming to life - centered around Detective Stone, we watch his investigation on missing teen Mallory Kingsley and the twists and turns you'd expect from an old, sultry, suspense film.

With two differing dynamics, the staging of this show is just incredible.
The story of Stine's screenplay is strictly set in black and white, as if the film is in front of our eyes
and the real world of Stine and life are full in color.
While it provides a clear distinction for which storyline we are watching, it also creates a fun and visually fantastic sight when the two plots are incorporated together on the same stage.

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I have never seen such a cast create a story so well.
Really. I couldn't even find a standout actor they were all so great for this show.

I had seen both Hadley Fraser and Tam Mutu in Les Miserables.
Hadley more times than I probably should have.
He is quite possibly my favorite actor to watch, but I think Tam might have jumped onto that list too.

Taking on the roles of Stine and Stone, it was almost like they were made for the men.
And their chemistry together was so great to watch.
It was also prettttty cool to watch two Javert's in a 'Confrontation' style scene with 'You're Nothing Without Me.'
Definitely the highlight of the show.

Rosalie Craig and Rebecca Trehearn gave the guys a run for their money, though.
I had seen Rebecca in Ghost when she went on as an understudy,
and specifically remember liking her better than the original lead.
So I was already excited to see what she'd bring to this show.
And it was, of course, amazing.
Her connection with the audience during 'You Can Always Count On Me' was one of the best I've seen.

I had never seen Rosalie, but have heard so many things about her,
one being 'the greatest stage actor of her generation.'
Needless to say, she had a lot to live up to for me.
And they were right, they were ALL right.
With a stunning voice and an amazing stage presence, she left me lost for words.

The rest of the cast added nothing but strength to the show.
Peter Polycarpou was excellent as self-obsessed producer Buddy Fidler,
Katherine Kelly was an absolutely hilarious trophy wife, and as a big fan of Les Miserables, it was pretty great to see Samantha Barks on the stage.

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I knew the show was going to be a good one, but I didn't realize how good it was.
It was a star cast, the staging was mesmerizing - an overall incredible production.

Which I'm using as justification for already grabbing a few more tickets to see it again....
But really, do we actually need an excuse to see more theatre?

City of Angels runs at Donmar Warehouse until February 7th 2015.Performances are Monday - Saturday 19:30, with matinees Wednesday & Saturday 14:00.The show is SOLD OUT, but Barclays Front Row tickets are available every Monday 10AM.The running time is 2 hours 35 minutes with one intermission.

I saw this show on Monday, and I'm still thinking about how hilarious it was.

That should be enough convincing, if you ask me.

Urinetown is a satirical musical, that makes a bit of a mockery out of ... well, everything.
The government, legal systems, corporate business,
even musical theatre.
And it's all absolutely hilarious.

The show takes place in the town of Urinetown,
You think the title is the strangest thing about this show?
The plot focuses around a city law that forces everyone to take care of their 'private business' in public bathrooms.
Told you.

An uprising from the people, though, creates a war between the corporate toilet controllers, Urine Good Company, and the public.

It's ultimately an anti-musical with an un-happy ending.

You're interested, I know.

The show is directed by Jamie Lloyd, who after this and the recently seen production of Assassins,
I am officially convinced this man does no wrong.
Matthew Seadon-Young who takes on the handsome young attendant to Public Amenity #9, Bobby Strong, proved his range with plenty of great (and hilarious) riffs and high notes throughout the show. He even leads the cast in a gospel-style number with the longest applause you'll ever be apart of.
Rosanna Hyland (who I'm overly surprised has never played Glinda in Wicked. She would kick that role's ass) nailed the part of the bubbly pretty-girl Hope Cladwell as well.
And Jonathan Slinger was the highlight of the show, breaking the fourth wall as the narrator to talk to us throughout the show, reminding us that we should not expect anything that we thought we'd see on a night out at the theatre.

I'll be honest, I wasn't overly excited to see this show at first, but knew it was one of those 'have to see's' before it closes this January.
But what I can tell you after seeing it - is that I will definitely be going back.
Like next week.
I may just be a huge fan of sarcasm, but it really was THAT good.

Urinetown runs at the Apollo Theatre until JANUARY 10th 2015.

Performances run Monday-Sunday 19:45, with matinee performances on Thursday & Saturday at 15:00.

The running time for this show is approximately 2 hour and 15 minutes with one intermission.

I'm HALFWAY FINISHED with a Master's degree!
For how much of a school person I'm not, I should be proud enough to have gotten this far..

Anyways,
I've spent the last weekend wandering around London,
trying to make sense that I actually live here.
I was in Trafalgar Square yesterday texting Heather pictures with
"Just in case you forgot, we live here. Like I can look at this every day because we live here.
How cool is that?"

If you've read this blog before, you pretty much know the story.

Blah blah, study abroad, blah blah, life changed,

blah blah, work work work, blah blah moved back to London.

Moving back here though, I did it knowing that it was for and unforeseeable future.

And as much as I absolutely hate not knowing the outcome - with a passion.
A serious hate, I'll tell ya.
There is also something so thrilling about it too.

I'm making all of my dreams come true, but have no idea what's to come next.

Isn't that the beauty of it all though?
Four years ago, I didn't even know what London would mean to me,
Four years before that I didn't know how theatre would change me.
Who knows what the next four are going to show me...

I was actually asked this other week in an interview,

"Where do you see yourself in 5 years?"

To which I gave the absolute worst answer for -

not only was I completely taken back with the realization that I had NO idea where I would be in 5 years,

I then had to mumble up some type of an answer that would sound like I had a plan.
Which I do - but the plan I had 5 years ago is no where near where I am now.

and 2. I don't know anything about champagne besides the fact I can drink it like water

We arrived a bit early and were able to check out the upstairs coffee/wine bar,

where we started off with a bottle of champagne for ourselves

as well as a few bites off the menu.

The Masterclass takes place below the restaurant area, where they store all of their drinks.
And while I wanted to stash every delicious bottle along the wall in my purse,
LUCKILY, the first bottle of champgane didn't already go to my head
and I was able to maintain my composure and wait for the stuff we'd be served.

The Masterclass featured four of Devaux's Champagnes,

Devaux Grand Reserve NV

Devaux 'D De Devaux' Le Rose NV

Devaux 'D De Devaux' La Cuvee NV

Devaux 'D De Devaux' Vintage 2005

(All delicious and very reasonably priced I will add)

We learned how champagne is made, why it tastes the way it does, and the differences between good champagne and

... well okay, it's all good champagne.

We'll just say 'between good champagne and better champagne.'

We had a glass of each champagne and I was completely surprised that I was able to taste some differences between them.
I know - not all champagne just tastes like champagne?? Who woulda thought?

Turns out, the longer a champagne is left to age, the less bubbles there are,
and with these you will get much more of a smoother, rich taste.
Which is why if you're opting for the cheapest bottle on the shelf this New Years Eve,
your bubbly will be extra bubbly.

All in all, it was another fantastic night filled with fantastic drinks.
And what's even better -
Notes London holds these Masterclasses for FREE! Yep, you heard it right!
Keep up to date with their facebook page to find announcements on when the next events will be.

With it's star-studded cast of Broadway and West End vets, it was guaranteed to be a good one.

And let me tell you - IT IS.

Assassins is a musical that tells the story of nine folks who attempted (some succeeded) to take the lives of the Presidents of the United States.

It takes you past the guns and to the people - what they thought, what they felt;

their side to the story.

Narrated by the Balladeer and the Proprietor,

they play a sort of 'good angel,' and 'bad angel' throughout the show.

The Proprietor puts on a sickening of sorts carnival style game of the assassinations,

while the Balladeer sings their stories as he proclaims his disagreement with their reasoning for murder.

There are moments in this show, though.

Moments of sincere shock - where you almost feel for these characters;

understand them.

"You want what everybody wants. To be appreciated. To be valued.

To be in other people's thoughts.

For them to think of you and smile. "

To be able to create a show of the most horrifying of people,

and allow us to find a commonality with them to be able to sympathize is a tremendous thing.

Something I personally never thought was possible.

And that is one reason why it is such a wonderful show.

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Performed inside the Menier Chocolate Factory, a space that seats only 180,

there is an incredible intimacy within the show.

You truly feel apart of the story -

all the way through to the end, when those 'lucky' few get the chilling experience

of staring death in the face.

Aaron Tveit is an obvious standout in this show - taking a complete turnaround from the 'all-American charmer' we all know and love him as, he takes on the role of John Wilkes Booth exceptionally well,